Newsletter #560

Predictably, City suffered another reverse on Tuesday, this time to Stockport, and in time-honoured City fashion, a Maine Road cast-off scored one of the goals and played a significant rôle in the other! City seem to have gone completely off the boil at the moment, so when it transpired that Stockport’s game strategy was to defend in depth and try and hit us on the break, all they could do for the first 30 minutes was launch the ball skyward, which was ‘right up the street’ of the County defenders. When we finally decided to play the ball on the ground, County struggled. We had several reasonable chances to put the game beyond them, but luck and endeavour were conspicuous by their absence. Goater was simply awful up front, and at the back, Edghill was back to playing his teammates into trouble, and even the dependable Weaver made two blunders, one which gave them a dubious penalty. Let’s hope we fare better against Chester.

This issue has Peter’s news, two match reports, and opinion; I’m clean out of Why Blues, so if you’ve never told your story, why not consider doing so now.

NEWS SUMMARY

City Suffer Third Straight Defeat

City’s mini-slump continued as local rivals Stockport County shocked the Maine Road crowd by coming from behind to inflict the Blues’ third successive league defeat. Gerard Wiekens put City in front from a corner four minutes after the break but County equalised in the 65th minute with a goal from former City reserve striker Alan Bailey. Stockport’s Tony Dinning scored the winner from the penalty spot four minutes from time after a foul on Bailey. City stay second in Division One, a point behind leaders Huddersfield. Meanwhile, Joe Royle is remaining calm despite the Blues’ miserable recent sequence. “There is no panic here,” insisted the City manager after the match. “We are second and would have accepted that position at the beginning of the season.”

Weaver Blunder Follows Accolades

Nicky Weaver was backed by his manager after the City goalkeeper’s error led to Stockport’s winning penalty at Maine Road. Joe Royle is already on record as tipping the youngster for an international future and the City boss hasn’t changed his mind after Tuesday’s match. “Nicky has been magnificent,” Royle told the official City website at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/. “He is a high profile player and has been talked about as an international and quite rightly so. One mistake won’t change that.” Weaver, who conceded possession trying to dribble the ball past County forward Alan Bailey, is adamant he’ll learn from the experience. “I have got to hold my hands up and admit that it was my mistake that cost us. You can be sure that I will not be trying to dribble out of my box again,” vowed the England under-21 man. Ironically, Weaver’s howler came in the wake of his nomination as Cisco Young Player of the Month, when he was hailed by past and present England managers. Current national team boss Kevin Keegan said, “I feel very lucky that we have such a talent coming through the England ranks.” Keegan’s England predecessor and current Newcastle boss Bobby Robson was equally enthusiastic, saying, “Nicky is top class. He is proving to be very popular, not only with City fans, but also in the managerial community. He is a truly remarkable player.”

Clear Out Begins

Joe Royle’s bid to reduce the size of the City squad began in earnest this week when youngster Alan Reilly moved to Halifax on a free transfer. And Royle will also allow striker Craig Russell to move on without a fee. Reilly was on trial at Bristol Rovers last month but failed to earn a permanent move to the south west. He links up with former City player Mark Lillis, who’s now manager at The Shay. Meanwhile the Blues’ willingness to waive a fee for Russell may facilitate a move to Darlington, where the player has spent the last three months on loan. Quakers boss David Hodgson may now be able to offer the former Sunderland front man a signing on-fee to compensate for the reduced wages on offer at Feethams. In a separate development, Gillingham have been linked with a renewed bid to persuade Danny Allsopp to move to Kent but the Australian is adamant he’ll stay and fight for a place at Maine Road. Finally, Cardiff City are weighing up whether to make an offer to keep Tony Vaughan in Wales at the end of his loan period. It’s thought that the Bluebirds are reluctant to meet Joe Royle’s £450,000 valuation but the City manager has reportedly promised to be “flexible” in negotiations with opposite number Frank Burrows. However, even if a fee is agreed, Vaughan may be unwilling to drop down a division on anything more than a temporary basis.

Ball Sacking Puts Brown Move in Doubt

Michael Brown’s prospects of earning a permanent move to Portsmouth when his loan spell ends have been cast into doubt after the south coast club sacked manager Alan Ball. The former City boss was dismissed after a string of poor results left his club 21st in Division One. Brown has been training at City this week since, as a loan player, he’s ineligible for Pompey’s FA Cup tie against Sunderland. But the transfer-listed former England under-21 man is due to resume his loan spell next week and he’s said that he’d consider a permanent switch to Fratton Park. “If an offer came in from Portsmouth I would have to think about it. They play football, have got good support and are a club with potential,” he admitted to the official City website at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/. However, if Ball’s successor is unfavourably disposed to Brown, the player will bid to resurrect his Maine Road career. “My heart is still with City. I have been here seven years and this is where I want to be,” he added.

Dickov Set for Reserve Comeback

City striker Paul Dickov, who’s been sidelined with a knee injury since the Blues’ home win over Ipswich at the end of October, has resumed training. And the Scot will feature when the Blues’ second string take on Stoke at Hyde’s Ewen Fields ground next Tuesday. If the player comes through the match unscathed he could then be in contention for a place on the bench for the home game against Swindon the following Saturday. Dickov’s return to action will increase Joe Royle’s striking options further, with the recent signings of Lee Peacock and Robert Taylor meaning the City boss has seven front players in his senior squad.

First Stone Laid at New City Home

Tony Blair was in Manchester earlier in the week as part of a two-day visit to the north west of England. And on one of his engagements the Prime Minister laid the first stone of the Blues’ new home, the City of Manchester Stadium at Eastlands. As the rebuilding of Wembley is dogged by controversy, the project which lost out in the race for national stadium status is proceeding smoothly. Manchester City, however, might be thankful that the London venue was chosen ahead of Eastlands. For to secure the level of funding required to make the Commonwealth Games stadium anything more than a temporary structure like the one used in Victoria, Canada in 1994, the city council had to demonstrate a significant degree of subsequent use. And without national stadium status, the only option was a long-term tenancy for the Blues.

City to Run G-Mex Coaching Sessions

The Blues are spreading their scouting net, with the club hiring Manchester’s G-Mex Centre on December 20 and 21 to offer specialist coaching sessions to youngsters between the ages of seven and fifteen. The participants will be split into two age groups. Those between seven and eleven will receive attention in the mornings between 10 am and 1 pm, while the afternoon slot between 2 pm and 5 pm sees the turn of those aged from eleven to fifteen. Places must be booked in advance, though the £3 fee will be payable on the day. Anyone interested can obtain information or make a booking by calling 0161-226 1782.

Chester Chairman Scents Cup Shock

The build-up to City’s FA Cup third round tie at Chester has begun, and the Third Division club’s owner and manager is convinced his side has a chance of causing an upset in Sunday’s clash at the Deva Stadium. “Our guys are going to get up for it and in this game anything can happen on a given day,” insisted American Terry Smith, who combines executive and coaching duties at the Cheshire outfit. “If our eleven guys all play to the best of their ability, and all come together at the same time with that quality then I think it can only take a break here and a break there and suddenly a game can be on the line.” Smith’s side are likely to face a changed City line-up in the absence of cup-tied Robert Taylor, with Joe Royle promising, “We will make one or two changes and it will give us the chance to freshen things up for the weekend.” But whichever players Royle selects, a defeat for the Blues on Sunday would be a major Cup shock – Chester have won only three league games all season and are bottom of the entire Nationwide League.

MATCH REPORT – ‘LIVE’ I

MANCHESTER CITY vs. STOCKPORT COUNTY, Tuesday 7th December 1999

Hmmmm! Well I suppose Walter Smith doesn’t need to wear his yellow hat. Tony Burns can start wearing a belt again, and I can be freed from the bondage of my erstwhile ‘Lucky Underpants’. The magic, for the time being has worn off.

City started with the same team that was well tonked by Wolves on Friday. County included Alan Bailey, a potential City wonderboy from the previous season, who we released to County in the summer. The script was already written, wasn’t it? City started quite brightly, with Mark Kennedy’s long crossfield ball just not quite picked up by the admittedly quite portly Robert Taylor. Taylor played quite well in the first half, narrowly missing 2 headers and displaying a deft little touch with his instep to Whitley in the early exchanges. He clearly tired as the game progressed and it’s fair to say that he is not yet gelling with Shaun – they often got in each other’s way. Nevertheless, I remain convinced that he will do the business for us this season.

County’s game plan was obvious from the start. They had players upfront, including Bailey and the reasonably impressive Chis Byrne with genuine pace. They sat back and tried to hit us on the break. All the game was played in County’s half, but other than the aforementioned Taylor misses and a spectacular volley from Bish, which hit the frame of the goal, Carlo Nash was rarely troubled in Stockport’s goal. Likewise, other than a mis-hit cross which Weaver smartly tipped over the bar, it was mainly quiet in our penalty area. Early in the second half Wiekens scored from a Jobson knock down following Kennedy’s corner. Surely we’d now turn the screw? But no, Granville trod on the ball in our own penalty area, Bailey shot, Weaver saved.

A few minutes later, Weaver missed a backpass but thankfully he was able to scurry back and save a corner. County scored when we lost the ball in midfield, Bishop and Horlock put in powderpuff challenges and Bailey scored following the ball ricocheting around our 6-yard box for about half an hour (OK I exaggerate slightly). It was a poor goal to concede from our point of view, as were most of the Wolves goals. Problem one: Why have we started conceding crap goals again, I thought we had eliminated this particular trait?

Almost straight from the restart, Jim Gannon, I think, almost scored ‘own goal of the season’, when from the edge of the box he wickedly sliced a ball onto the post. Problem two: Have we used up all our luck already this season? We huffed and puffed, Pollock replaced Whitley, Taylor Mk1 replaced Taylor Mk2, Nash was excellent gathering most of Kennedy’s crosses and it looked like a disappointing 1-1 was on the cards. But of course as you already know, Nicky tried to dribble the ball past one striker too many, lost it to Bailey, who was subsequently brought down by Granville, Dinning scoring the resultant penalty to secure a famous County win. There were question marks about whether there was an offside, and TV replays show that Bailey was brought down outside the box, but that’s not really the point, is it? We all knew that Weaver would be caught out one day, it’s just a pity that it was such an expensive blunder. You can’t criticise him too much, he single-handedly won us 6 points against Brum and Ipswich earlier in the season, not to mention countless other saves. This mistake cost us a point, so he’s still in credit.

So has the bubble burst? Hopefully not but it’s got a slow puncture! Certain players, Granville, Whitley, Edghill and possibly Wiekens looked jaded. Kennedy is not yet back to his best. The Goater/R Taylor partnership doesn’t exist yet and Weaver has lost a little of the invincibility he looked like he had a few short weeks ago. In fact the whole team seem to lack that ‘something’ that has kept us going, even when key players have been out. We do miss the leadership and organisational skills of Morrison, but as mentioned, we’ve survived without his and others’ influence previously. We were slower to the ball, we weren’t getting the bounces, the passing (with the exception of Bishop) wasn’t crisp, it just didn’t work! So we’ve lost 3 on the trot, so what! Only Wolves tonked us. We could have won both the others, the fact that we didn’t is concerning, but not ‘end of the world’ stuff. Other than Huddersfield, our other main rivals are cocking up their own results and the fact remains that we are still second in the league, 1 point off the top, 8 points clear of the last play-off place. Admit it, it’s better than we expected in August! Swindon and Grimsby really are ‘must win’ games, and failure to garner maximum points may mean a reassessment of our situation and our expectations. For now, I’m still fairly happy. You should be too!

MATCH REPORT – ‘LIVE’ II

MANCHESTER CITY vs. STOCKPORT COUNTY, Tuesday 7th December 1999

Well what a shambles! I write this on the train back from Manchester the day after an insipid performance by the boys in blue. Having taken a day off work to come from London and see a night match at Maine Road, I am asking myself was it worth the effort and money – it was not.

A few pints in the Beehive before the match and I was looking forward to a solid 2 goal victory against a tough to crack but not Premiership touting Stockport County. A full house at Maine Road – but oh how quiet the Kippax is these days! Where has the roar gone? Many of the people in there are quieter than those you would find at a West End Theatre production. Now I certainly would not want to be among those sitting in the North Stand singing “stand up if you hate Man U” for 90 minutes – but a bit of passion would not embarrass you Mr & Mrs Kippax. In the same way that we always outsinging the home support at away matches, Stockport were well on song – what must ‘Super Bobby Taylor’ have thought on his home début?

City did look up for it from the off – a couple of close headers from SBT went wide – not bad I thought – he will have plenty of those tonight and will surely convert at least one – alas no. The first half was nothing to write home about – lacklustre midfield and Bishop and Kennedy still not 100% in my books – half time 0-0. No problem we thought – a good talking to by Big Joe and we will start playing – and we did. Corner from Kennedy eventually fell to Wiekens who had plenty of time to push the ball over the line. However, this only fired up County and their fans rather than the send them into retreat. We took the foot off the throttle and they came back at us and scored. Then Weaver became complacent and… Penalty… 2-1 down. We never looked like getting an equaliser and I thought Stockport deserved to win the match.

On the whole we were dreadful – unfortunately our performance was summed up in the last minute when Goater and Gareth Taylor appeared to either collide with each other going for the ball or tried to tackle each other. My post mortem identifies a team with very few options in attack, a defence that is slowing to a halt and a midfield that creates minimal chances. We should have a right winger – if Cooke is out of form then it is Royle’s and Cooke’s job to get him back into form. Alternatively, we get or use someone else – but to not play anyone as a right winger just focuses our efforts – and the opposition’s defence – on Kennedy and he will, and has been, marked out of the game.

I can really envisage City playing with two fast wingers – running the defences ragged – we have the ability to do this and it is what the forwards need and must be demanding. No City team of any historic worth has ever achieved anything without two wingers. However, we are still second and tipped for promotion. On the showing of the last month I think something has to happen to keep us there – our performances have been second rate – even the ones we have won, and our confidence has waned lately. I pray that SBT finds his form at Maine Road – hopefully supplied by an in form Cooke and a fit Kennedy. Many people will compare us to where we were this time last year as say – “what are you moaning about?” – well yes it is good to be out of the Second Division – but we are still in the first and we have to be in the Premiership. My train has come to a halt now – I just hope that our promotion campaign has not.

SQUAD REQUEST

With all the recent comings and goings, well loan moves anyway, I was wondering if the guy that has produced City squad status lists for MCIVTA in the past could do another one as I’ve rather lost track of exactly who’s out on loan, and who’s transfer listed.

DUTCH GATHERING

Apart from the scoreline, as far as I can remember everyone managed to have a fun time. The evening starting off in “The Boozer” which is run by Barry the Rag. While the game was on everyone had a go at the City Quiz with Dave “Quiz King” Lyons winning the 1st prize of a Man City Clock and book “Man United Ruined My Life”. Prizes of David Chidlow’s “City Till I Die” book (which I personally recommend) and signed City poster went to Angelo de Bruin for the best Dutch effort (he in fact came 2nd). Eric van Rhijn also picking up a signed poster for fun/original answers. Thanks to Andy “Dougal” Holgate for organising the signed City posters. There was also a Footie Card doing the rounds (supplied by Hoppy) which was deservedly won by Mike Doherty to the tune of 80 quid. Deservedly, because this guy travelled for 2 hours by train from Maastricht, going straight to the Boozer, deciding not to book into the hotel ’til later. Then later, (3am) finding himself not able to get into the hotel, walked round for a couple of hours looking for another hotel, which he couldn’t find so he slept at the station ’til the first train in the morning. Shame you forgot my phone number, Mike.

After the game finished we all headed off for a meal, a lot of singing being done and photos being taken by John “The Cap” Waters. The stragglers that were then left headed off to the Irish Bar and then back to The Boozer till about 3 am. Thanks to everyone that attended and people that contributed, even turning up for the Saturday Session “Big Respect”. Here’s to the next game in Amsterdam on Boxing Day. Why Blue: I was a West Ham fan until the day I visited Maine Road. It was like trading an ugly wife for Anna Kornikova. Since that day, 7 years ago I’m City ’till I die.

B EING
D EFINITELY
S AD!

Dorien James has definitely pushed the debate about this into new territory – great stuff. Unfortunately the maths is a bit beyond me – e.g. I thought a Poisson distribution was something a very good French midfielder did!

But one question occurs to me, can you answer it Dorien? What is the probability of a valid BDS occuring where the game is actually played on the date you are born (and wouldn’t it be spooky if we got a BDS tomorrow against Stockport?)?

I know I’m going to get 2,000+ hate emails for this, but somehow I’m just doing it for the devilment now!

ANORAK QUESTION

Here is a question for all the anoraks. Do City have the worst record for live TV games? It seems that whenever we are on TV we get turned over. Is there a sort of league table rating teams and their performances on live TV? If there is I am sure that City would be in the relegation zone.

COMMENT – HOW MANY TAYLORS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?

For those of you of a murderous persuasion, please don’t do anything you might regret… after this one there’s only 5 to go, then I’m stopping!

S  igned
T  aylor
O  n
C  ondition
K  ennedy's
P  erfect
O  penings
R  esult in
T  aken
C  hances,
O  therwise we might as well have
U  sed
'N other
T  aylor!
(Y awn)

OPINION – VIEW FROM DOWN UNDER

I waited until after the Barnsley victory to decide that I would brag and bring to the attention of semi-interested friends and family here in Sydney, of City’s current rich vein of form. So convinced was I that the blues would maintain this form, especially with fixtures against “weaker opposition”, with injured players returnng to the side and a new, better striker being signed to boost the goals for.

For the last few years, these friends and family have known not to enquire upon City’s folly or U****d’s triumphs.

Anyway, on the Saturday of the Huddersfield match, friends came over to our place for a barbie. Included in this bunch was “Macca” a fellow Blue from Sale. I insisted that we toast the “table toppers”, although Macca was reluctant to do this I must admit. I showed a soccer-mad French mate of mine (who visited Maine Road as part of my stag weekend celebrations in August 1993, 1-1 versus Leeds) a copy of the league table, and laid it on thick about the change in fortunes. Macca reluctantly joined in the praise, but he has obviously been more deeply scarred by the past than myself. His lack of optimism has however, been founded, we have not managed to shake off those shackles of yester season, we thought we had, but alas, no. Naturally we lost the next three games (2 at fortress Maine Road!).

You’ll be pleased to know that I intend to keep quiet from now on regardless of results. I hope this is just a mere hiccup, before a further surge. Maybe Joe will confiscate the tabs from the lads as a punishment?

Also after the Barnsley win, I decided to print off the fixture list and results so far from Svenn’s web site, so I can examine them, and fill in the results etc. whilst I am on the train to work and back. My only entries so far have been, L 0-1, L 1-4 and L 1-2. Remind me never to do this again, I guess it is my fault, not Svenn’s.

I’m in the process of booking a trip back to the UK for my family, in October next year. So hopefully there will be plenty of opportunities to see some matches (dare I say it…, no). Maybe TG4 will coincide? The last match I saw was at Maine Road, City 1 Ipswich 0, August 1996, just before I left for Oz. We were poor that night, but got the 3 points thanks to Steve Lomas!

Building on the useless information of Gerry Noone, mate of Cathal “Beer Goggles” Whelan and the matter of Mark Leather, inept physio. I think that prior to Liverpool he was physio at Brighton and Burnley. He also has a short spell with City, either just before or after Eammon Salmon had the job. Judging by his apparent lack of ability, maybe he was employed to fast track Paul Lake’s recovery from his knee injury? Mark is a character actually, he’s not a physio he is actually a “remedial gymnast”, read into that what you will. I used to go out with a girl who qualified in the same class as Mark, at Wakefield College. Good hands.

OPINION – GARETH TAYLOR

Welcome to the Gareth Taylor hardly-a-fan-but-he’s-not-that-bad Club.

Goater gets a scrappy goal at Wolves, and he and Taylor (R) miss all their other chances, and some people in MCIVTA 559 were still slagging off Gareth Taylor! I can’t remember the last time I saw Gareth play badly, and recently the vast majority of his headers, passes and touches have worked, some very well. Per minute on the pitch, he’s probably our leading scorer this season! And he didn’t play in last Friday’s débâcle. Taylor and Taylor up front would do me! And on what I saw at Wolves, what chance rehabilitation for Gary Mason?

Postscript after the Stockport match:

Well, least said about Shaun in that match the better, but I can now add Bob Taylor to my list of Are-they-really-better-than-Gareth forwards. Spent all second half backing in, except the defenders sidestepped him and left him backing into thin air while they headed away. G Taylor comes on, goes up for a cross under challenge but forces defender to give away a corner. Had no chance to do anything else before or after the penalty débâcle.

My mission in life is to catalogue all the good things Gareth does, for Joe must surely prefer him to Goater now…

RESEARCH INTO CITY FANDOM – HLEP NEEDED!

Greetings fellow citizens!

I am studying an anthropology degree at Goldsmiths, London and I have decided to do my final year dissertation on one of the subjects closest to my heart, namely Manchester City and more specifically City fans (I have supported City for the past 22 years, for my sins).

The kind of issues I will be looking are how supporting City helps to shape the identity of the individual, as well as looking at the broader picture. What is really going on when the support shows no sign of decline as the team plummets? What does this say about the group as a community, how much of this is distinct to this particular group and why? I was particularly intrigued to read Mark Hodkinson’s remark in ‘Blue Moon’ that ‘City supporters have been left with nothing else to celebrate except themselves’.

I will also be looking at the broader aspects that have helped to shape the club (team and support) which Hodkinson touched upon, such as Manchester’s industrial past, the legacy of trade unionism, religious factors and the influence of Irish immigrants etc.

If anyone thinks they can help to enlighten me on such issues or any others of importance which I may have overlooked I would be extremely grateful. I am putting together a questionnaire with about 12 questions (nothing too academic or pretentious) which I am looking for volunteers to complete (I can Email these to willing participants). Alternatively I am eager to meet with people who fancy an informal chat about City. If there is anyone in London who fancies meeting up for an hour or so in a pub of your choice, I will buy you a beer or two for your time. Alternatlvely, if there is anyone anywhere out there who is willing to complete my questionnaire or can help by suggesting useful contacts or books to read, this would also be a great help.

You can contact me directly at the address below.

THE DUSTBINMEN

A very interesting ‘Why Blue?’ from Andy Howell in MCIVTA 559 in which he says he cannot recall who played the part of Winston in The Dustbin Men. To set his mind at rest the part of Winston was played by Graham Haberfield who also played the part of the hapless Jerry Booth (one of Len Fairclough’s two employees, the other being Ray Langton) in Coronation Street way back before many of your readers were born.

REQUEST – LANGLEY BLUES

I moved to Glasgow about 20 years ago but until then I was an avid attender at City matches both home and away during the seventies. There was a crowd of guys from Langley in Middleton who went everywhere with City, big Tony Valente, Dave Casson, Les Cracknel, Gary Walker, Mark (mad) Macormick to name but a few. Where are all you guys now? If anybody out there knows any of these guys or me, Steve Oatway (oaka) drop me a line.

RESULTS

Recent results from 25 November 1999 to 9 December 1999 inclusive.

7 December 1999

Blackburn Rovers      3 - 1  Bolton Wanderers
Crewe Alexandra       2 - 0  West Bromwich Albion
Crystal Palace        2 - 2  Ipswich Town
Manchester City       1 - 2  Stockport County

League table to 7 December 1999 inclusive.

                             HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  GD Pts
 1 Huddersfield T. 22  9  2  0 29  9  4  2  5 10 13 13  4  5 39 22  17  43
 2 Manchester City 22  8  0  3 22  9  5  3  3 10 10 13  3  6 32 19  13  42
 3 Charlton Ath.   21  7  2  2 19 10  5  2  3 19 14 12  4  5 38 24  14  40
 4 Ipswich Town    22  8  1  2 22 11  3  5  3 15 14 11  6  5 37 25  12  39
 5 Barnsley        21  8  1  2 25 10  3  2  5 14 23 11  3  7 39 33   6  36
 6 Stockport C.    22  6  5  0 19 12  3  2  6  8 18  9  7  6 27 30  -3  34
 7 Fulham          21  5  4  2 11  7  3  5  2 13 11  8  9  4 24 18   6  33
 8 Birmingham City 21  6  3  1 21  9  2  5  4 11 14  8  8  5 32 23   9  32
 9 QPR             22  5  6  0 19 12  3  2  6 13 16  8  8  6 32 28   4  32
10 Bolton Wndrs    22  6  3  2 21 14  2  4  5 11 12  8  7  7 32 26   6  31
11 Blackburn R.    21  5  4  2 16  9  2  5  3 10 11  7  9  5 26 20   6  30
12 Wolves          20  4  4  2 15  9  3  4  3  8 10  7  8  5 23 19   4  29
13 Tranmere Rovers 22  6  3  2 19 12  2  2  7 12 20  8  5  9 31 32  -1  29
14 Norwich City    21  6  1  3 11  8  1  6  4  8 11  7  7  7 19 19   0  28
15 West Brom A.    21  2  7  2 12 11  3  3  4  9 12  5 10  6 21 23  -2  25
16 Crystal Palace  22  5  4  2 20 10  1  3  7 10 26  6  7  9 30 36  -6  25
17 Grimsby Town    21  6  2  2 13 11  1  2  8  9 23  7  4 10 22 34 -12  25
18 Crewe Alex.     21  4  3  3  9  8  2  2  7 13 21  6  5 10 22 29  -7  23
19 Port Vale       22  4  2  5 11 12  1  5  5 15 19  5  7 10 26 31  -5  22
20 Nottm Forest    21  4  4  2 16 10  1  2  8  7 17  5  6 10 23 27  -4  21
21 Portsmouth      22  4  4  3 16 11  1  2  8  9 25  5  6 11 25 36 -11  21
22 Sheff. United   22  4  3  4 15 13  1  3  7 10 25  5  6 11 25 38 -13  21
23 Walsall         22  2  4  5  9 14  2  3  6 10 20  4  7 11 19 34 -15  19
24 Swindon Town    22  2  5  4 11 18  1  3  7  5 16  3  8 11 16 34 -18  17

WWW MANCHESTER CITY SUPPORTERS’ HOME PAGE:
http://www.uit.no/mancity/

MCIVTA ADDRESSES:
Contributions: Ashley – mcivta@tollbar.u-net.com
News & Rumours: Peter – brophy_peter@hotmail.com
Subscriptions: Steve – sbolton@buxtonrd.u-net.com
Technical Problems: Paul – paul@city-fan.org

DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in MCIVTA are entirely those of the subscribersand there is no intention to represent these opinions as being thoseof Manchester City Football Club, nor of any of the companies anduniversities by whom the subscribers are employed. It is not inany way whatsoever connected to the club or any other relatedorganisation and is simply a group of supporters using this mediumas a means of disseminating news and exchanging opinions.

Ashley Birch, mcivta@tollbar.u-net.com

Editor: